Traduction Masquer
On the Lapsed

24.

One of those who of his own will ascended the Capitol to make denial, after he had denied Christ, became dumb. The punishment began from that point whence the crime also began; ¹ so that now he could not ask, since he had no words for entreating mercy. ² Another, who was in the baths, (for this was wanting to her crime and to her misfortunes, that she even went at once to the baths, when she had lost the grace of the laver of life); there, unclean as she was, was seized by an unclean spirit, ³ and tore with her teeth the tongue with which she had either impiously eaten or spoken. After the wicked food had been taken, the madness of the mouth was armed to its own destruction. She herself was her own executioner, nor did she long continue to live afterwards: tortured with pangs of the belly and bowels, she expired.

Traduction Masquer
Des Tombés

XXIV.

Un homme monta au Capitole pour apostasier; il renia Jésus-Christ, et de suite après, il devint muet. La langue qui proféra l’apostasie fut paralysée et incapable d’implorer par des paroles la miséricorde divine.

Une femme coupable du même crime se rendit aux bains. L’insensée, après avoir perdu la grâce du bain salutaire, elle (87) allait laver son corps. — Là, elle fut saisie par l’esprit impur, se roula par terre et, avec ses dents, coupa cette langue qui, venait de proférer des blasphèmes et de se souiller par le contact des viandes immolées. Ce n’est pas assez: sa rage se tourna contre elle-même; elle devint son propre bourreau, couvrit son corps de plaies hideuses; enfin ses entrailles se décomposèrent et elle mourut dans d’atroces douleurs.